Val d'Isère (France)

Val d'Isère in short

Resort centre renovated in a traditional style

Extensive ski area with excellent lift system

Great hotels and apres-ski options

The French ski resort of Val d'Isere opened its first hotel in 1932, and has come a long way since then! It now has one of the best range of services and ski accommodation in the French Alps. The resort centre was renovated in 1992 respecting the traditional mountain architecture style and Val d'Isere is now a charming ski resort with a world-wide reputation. The vastness of the resort's ski area, Espace Killy (shared with Tignes), also plays a large part in the reputation of Val d'Isere but it is mostly renowned for the Killy sisters who won the Olympic Winter Games here.

An incredible number of ski runs, good facilities for snowboarders and a spectacular choice of off-piste skiing also amply justify Val d'Isere's reputation. Together with the neighbouring Tignes ski resort, they make up the Espace Killy ski area which is one of the best and most famous ski areas in the world. Skiers of all levels will find what they are looking for on the ski slopes here particularly with the recent installation of areas dedicated to beginners and families. If you're looking for lively apres-ski, you've come to the right place - there's a wide choice for all tastes and budgets and even the wildest party animal won't be disappointed here in Val d'Isère at venues such as Dick's Tea bar, Victors Bar and the Pacific Bar! Prices are quite high here but you will be happy to pay for the quality in Val d'Isere.

Val d'Isere - a mosaic of festivities

Ski holidays in Val d'Isere certainly don’t have to involve putting your feet up in front of the fireplace after a day of skiing – not unless you want to, of course! On the contrary, Val d’Isere is renowned for its lively apres-ski and wide choice of events and festivities. The concept of daytime dancefloors up on the ski slopes was actually born here. Many singers, musicians, dancers and DJs liven up the terraces of mountain restaurants every much to the pleasure of passing skiers and snowboarders who can stop and join in if they fancy. For more traditional festivities, the Cassicaval concerts are held annually in the beautiful baroque church of St. Bernard of Menthon in the centre of Val d’Isere. This is an event not to be missed for all classical music lovers as it welcomes artists from around the world.

Polo Masters Val d'Isere: if you don’t mind!

A prestigious sporting event held every year in Val d'Isere is the BMW Polo Masters which attracts an international audience at the bottom of the famous Face de Bellegarde ski slope which leads right into the ski resort. This equestrian event brings together the best international, professional polo players, mounted on their magnificent Argentine ponies – a really rather classy affair! This prestigious event takes place every year in January. During this event, there is a great atmosphere in Val d’Isere with shows and live music and be sure not to miss the release of hundreds of sky lanterns which marks the end of the Masters.

At one with nature in Val d'Isere

If you love the snow and mountains but not the ski lifts and crowds. If you prefer peace and quiet and feeling at one with nature, a lot of options are available to you in Val d'Isere. The resort offers great hiking trails, six beautiful cross-country ski trails at the bottom of the Manchet valley around Lake Ouillette. Professional guides offer snowshoeing hikes that reveal secret landscapes and wildlife that often remain out of sight due to the hustle and bustle of downhill skiing. If you fancy trying something new, you can have a go at the Olympic sport, biathlon, at the stadium in Val d'Isere.

Big Air in Val d'Isere!

Each year in the ski season, the French ski resort of Val d'Isere organizes the FrostGun Invitational, a very festive freestyle event that brings together the greatest riders in the world on the Big Air designed especially for the occasion. Don’t be put off if you’re a beginner, Val d’Isere’s snowpark, located at the Combe du Mont Blanc at 2,500 m of altitude, is equipped with several tables, hips and jumps of all sizes and for all levels and offers 25 modules and an accessible spine! In short, everything you need for fun until sunset in Val d'Isere.

“Val d'Isere for everyone”

This is how the ski resort of Val d'Isere defines itself. With its Family Plus label, families are guarantee a good level of dedicated services and facilities. The Children's Village is a fun and educational environment for children aged from 18 months to 13 years old. Le Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb) is a nursery specializing in childcare for the smallest members of the family aged up to 3 years old. The Espace Plage in the aquasportif Centre in Val d'Isere will delight the whole family with its water activities! In Val d’Isere, everyone is treated like a child – there is a family ski pass that allows the whole family to pay child rates making it possible to save around 20% on ski passes!